By IANS,
Toronto : Canada will hold its first quadrangular Twenty20 cricket tournament featuring Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and the hosts here from Oct 10 to 13.
The tournament, which was originally scheduled to have started Aug 14, was postponed as uncertainty prevailed over sponsorships.
Bangladesh and the West Indies, which were earlier listed to participate in the tournament, have pulled out. They have been replaced by Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh pulled out because the new dates clashed with its home series against the touring New Zealand. The West Indies sought postponement of the quadrangular series by two weeks.
With the organisers not accommodating the West Indies request and bringing in Zimbabwe as a replacement, the tournament will now be held at the Maple Leaf cricket ground here next month.
Nauman Nabi, chairman of Sports International Marketing who are the tournament organisers, said it was not possible to delay the tournament beyond the schedule announced Sunday as the Canadian winter weather will not be conducive to playing cricket.
The Twenty20 tournament will be another feather in the cap of fledging Canadian cricket, which is witnessing a revival of the sport in the country.
Just last month, Cricket Canada held the first-ever ODI series involving the West Indies, Bermuda and the hosts. Two top Canadians banks – the Royal bank of Canada and Scotiabank – have become the sponsors of the sport from the school to national level.
The Canadian government too has announced to give official backing to the promotion of the sport.